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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us June 15, 2006 Movies: in review Latest Pixar offering gets the checkered flag By Donald Lind Tidings correspondent The Disney-distributed Pixar Animation Studios has scored hit after multi-million-dollar hit since its 1995 debut feature film, “Toy Story.” The studio’s latest offering, “Cars,” gives it a perfect 7-0 record. The Pixar films all follow the trend of visiting a different world and giving the creatures in it a human feel-live toys, insects, monsters, and so on. “Cars” continues this trend: The world in this film is inhabited by automobiles of all shapes and sizes. True to life, the fancier the model of car, higher on the class chain it is. Fancy Porches become lawyers; sporty racecars are media darlings. And in this world, rookie racing sensation Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is the superstar of the racing world. Lightning is on the fast track to be the first-ever rookie to win the coveted Piston Cup and all the fame and fortune that goes with it. Unfortunately, Lightning is vain, arrogant, selfish and pig-headed. He is also very prejudiced against rusted, ugly cars. His overconfidence forces a three-way race-off in California. Even worse for the spoiled racecar, a late-night mishap on the highway causes him to separate from his transport, and he ends up in Radiator Springs, a stop-off on old Route 66. While there, he ends up impounded and sentenced to community service for wrecking the town’s one road. This means spending more time than he ever thought with the out-dated local models. Of course, a family film like this wouldn’t be complete without lessons to be learned. Lightning gradually discovers the meaning of teamwork and friendship and the value of a community sticking together instead of looking to become the next big sponsor. The animation in cars is amazing. The folks at Pixar seem to improve the fluidity of movement for characters with each passing picture. Even more astonishing is that at times, the cartoon faces on the vehicles begin to resemble the actors voicing them. It is easy to see Owen Wilson’s face in the shiny, shallow Lightning and Paul Newman’s grizzled features on the radiator of town leader Doc Hudson. All voice actors fit the characters they give life to, including Larry the Cable Guy as the funny local tow truck Mater (as in the vegetable, “but without the Tow”). “Cars” also follows Pixar’s usual tendency to aim jokes at both children and adults. And there are plenty of jokes to be had, such as the overhead view of the racetrack from the “Lightyear” blimp. The story itself may appeal to older viewers. It calls upon people’s love for the good old days of traveling down a road and making friends, not making good time. It shows nostalgia for the days of Route 66’s heyday and a love for all things vintage cars. But the kids have plenty of reasons to stick around as well, including the characters from Radiator Springs and the amazing Piston Cup races. This film doesn’t focus as much on action as the previous offerings from Pixar, but focuses more on Lightning’s growing relationships with the bizarre folks that live away from the highway. There are twice as many scenes of relaxing drives through the woods as there are action-packed car wrecks on the track. The character that comes closest to a villain (Michael Keaton) is a background character for most of the film. This is easily the most laid back Pixar release yet. It is a definite change of pace from the dark-edged superheroics of “The Incredibles,” but this film works best as a character-driven piece. The interactions between the characters feel more natural and are more engaging than a lot of the films out there. Many of the previews featured in the coming attractions before the film were of animated films. Animation lately has become a big money maker for Hollywood, but if “Cars” is any indication, those films will have to deliver in spades in order to match the pure fun of this film. “Cars” is the least action-packed summer film to date, but it is certainly one of the best. It has all the action, humor and spectacular animation necessary to entertain all audiences. It is an easy checkered flag for Pixar. If you make a creepy movie, they will come By Chris Honoré Tidings reviewer Filmmakers learned along ago if you make a creepy movie they will come. Think of it as horror’s field of dreams. Nothing is outside the purview of the genre. Start with Satan, evil possession (people, houses, animals, even fog), spirits, ghosts, and all manner of unexplained phenomenon to include E.T.’s, and you have some rich geography across which Hollywood loves to travel. Combine that with a willing audience that is ready to suspend its disbelief at the drop of a gravestone, eager to join in the conspiracy regarding the existence of the supernatural, and you have a nifty combination. Actually, if you think about it, “The DaVinci Code” had the same impetus: steeped in religion, propelled by conspiracy, with certain forces of evil at work. Recall the “Star Wars” franchise and the forces of the dark side. What better personification of the satanic than Darth Vader. The reality is that for all of our scientific posturing, our reductionistic attitudes, when it comes to walking through a graveyard late at night, well, no one is too sure that those who are gone are really gone or that the natural laws that govern our existence are always fully engaged. And if something goes bump behind a large gothic crypt, it can be a bit unsettling. Even hair raising. And that is exactly what “The Omen” is intended to do, creep out moviegoers. This film is a remake of the 70’s cult classic. Not as intense as “The Exorcist,” which is the gold standard of Satan films, but it does the job. The premise is that the Book of Revelations is coming to pass. The Anit-Christ has returned to earth and the perfect storm of evil against good is forming on the horizon. Damien (Seamus Dave-Fitzpatrick), an innocent-looking 5-year-old, is the messenger of Satan, sent to the world to perpetuate his master’s will. Damien’s parents, who think he’s just a kid, begin to be creeped out themselves by his strange behavior. Damien has a deadeye look that is chilling. It doesn’t help when his first nanny hangs herself at his birthday party, and a new nanny, Mrs. Baylock, shows up in the person of Mia Farrow from “Rosemary’s Baby” fame, a film that, like “The Exorcist,” was way up there on the horror Richter scale. Baylock (great name) takes in a mean looking rottweiler with darkly intelligent eyes who sleeps at the foot of Damien’s bed. And there’s an ominous German shepherd that appears before the nanny hanging, almost smiling at Damien. A large black raven might have been a bit over the top. No ravens. No gargoyles. Of course, there is a stressed-out priest, played wonderfully by Pete Postlethwaite, who attempts to warn Damien’s father that evil is loose and bad things are about to happen, telling him to take holy communion. Often. But if you’re postmodern, like the dad, it’s a tough sell. Is this new version of “The Omen” effective? Sure. If you’re drawn to the creep genre (moth-candle). Maybe you wake up at night and lay there staring at the closet door, or refuse to go down into the basement unless armed, and even then it’s a tossup; or you believe there’s a fissure running through all natural laws ready to split open like a California fault line. If so, then you’ll love this film. For the rest, probably not. Warning: there is a gratuitous beheading, completely unnecessary, but then the filmmakers of horror have to establish their bonafides. Starring Julia Stiles, Liev Schrieber, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, Pete Postlethwaite, and Mia Farrow. Directed by John Moore. Rated R. NOW PLAYING Lake House A doctor who once occupied a lakeside home begins exchanging love letters with its newest resident, a frustrated architect. When they discover they’re actually living two years apart, they try to unravel the mystery before it’s too late. Remake of “Il Mare”, a 2000 Korean film. Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves, Dylan Walsh, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Christopher Plummer. PG for some language and a disturbing image/99 min. Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont An elegant elderly lady, recently widowed, moves from Scotland to London to be near her grandson. When he doesn’t return her calls, she falls into a friendship with another young man. He agrees to pose as the grandson so that she can save face with the other elderly residents of the hotel in which she lives. Directed by Dan Ireland “Passionada” Joan Plowright, Rupert Friend, Anna Massey, Georgina Hale, Millicent Martin, Clare Higgins. Not Rated/108 min. Celestine Prophecy Disillusioned and temporarily rudderless, John Woodson is about to experience a dramatic and profound metamorphosis. Through a mysterious set of coincidences, he finds himself on an adventure to Peru in search of ancient scrolls known as the Celestine Prophecy. The prophecy and its nine key insights, predict a new awakening that redefines human life and provides a glimpse into a completely spiritual culture on earth. Resistant at first, skeptical and unsure, John finds that each step he takes, each person he encounters leads him to a new awakening. It is only in this letting go that he finds his destiny and comes to understand the meaning that had escaped him when his adventure began. Directed by Armand Mastroianni; Screenplay by James Redfield, Barnet Bain; Based on the novel by James Redfield Matthew Settle, Thomas Kretschmann, Sarah Wayne Callies, Annabeth Gish, Hector Elizondo, Joaquim de Almeida, Jurgen Prochnow. PG for some violence/95 min. Don’t Come Knocking During production on his latest movie, an aging cowboy star walks away from the set on a journey of self-discovery. Directed by Wim Wenders and written by Sam Shepard who collaborated on “Paris, Texas” Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange, Tim Roth, Gabriel Mann, Sarah Polley, Eva Marie Saint. R for language and brief nudity/122 min. Omen Contemporary thriller centers around the young son of an American diplomat and his wife. Damien’s family is unaware he is destined to become the Anti-Christ – until shattering events reveal the terrifying truth. Based on the 1976 classic starring Gregory Peck and Lee Remick. Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, Mia Farrow, David Thewlis, Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Gambon. Rated R for disturbing violent content, graphic images and some language/110 min Beauty Academy of Kabul In English and Dari with English subtitles. An engaging, optimistic documentary about a new beauty school in Kabul. Volunteer American teachers, including three Afghan-Americans returning home for the first time in many years, teach the latest techniques to practicing and aspiring Afghan hairdressers and beauticians. A rare glimpse into Afghan women’s lives. Directed and edited by Liz Mermin. Not Rated/74 min. Cars From Disney and Pixar comes the animated story of a hotshot rookie racecar who finds himself unexpectedly detoured. With the help of some new friends he discovers that life is all about the journey, not the finish line. Directed by John Lasseter (“Toy Story”, “A Bug’s Life”). Voice talents of Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, George Carlin. Includes 4.5m short subject.“One Man Band”/S/Buena Vista. G/122 min. Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Garfield heads to London, is mistaken for feline royalty, inherits a castle and lives the fat cat lifestyle - until an evil Lord tries to off him so he can turn the castle into a resort. Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Billy Connolly, Roger Rees; Voice talents of Bill Murray, Bob Hoskins, Tim Curry. PG for some off-color elements/78 min. Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Sean, a hot-headed, underdog street racer trying to avoid jail time, goes to live with his estranged father, a career military man stationed in Tokyo. There he’s an outsider, until he discovers the colorful underground world of Japanese drift racing, an exhilarating balance of speeding and gliding through a heart-stopping course of hairpin turns and switchbacks. Lucas Black, Bow Wow, Brian Tee, Sung Kang, Jason Tobin, Nathalie Kelly. PG-13 for reckless and illegal behavior involving teens, violence, language and sexual content/104 min. Nacho Libr e Ignacio is a cook in a Mexican orphanage by day, but by night he is a masked wrestler trying to raise money for the orphans. Directed by Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite”) Jack Black, Hector Jimenez, Troy Gentile. PG for some rough action, and crude humor including dialogue/91 min. Break-Up After deciding to split up, a couple is forced to live together in the condo they previously shared because neither is willing to move out. Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Joey Lauren Adams, Ann-Margret, Judy Davis,Vincent D’Onofrio, Jon Favreau, Cole Hauser, Justin Long, Jason Bateman. PG-13 for sexual content, some nudity and language/105 min. X-Men: The Last Stand A “cure” for mutancy threatens to alter the course of history. For the first time, mutants have a choice: retain their uniqueness, though it isolates and alienates them, or give up their powers and become human. The opposing viewpoints of mutant leaders Charles Xavier, who preaches tolerance, and Magneto, who believes in the survival of the fittest, are put to the ultimate test – triggering the war to end all wars. Directed by Brett Ratner (“Red Dragon”, all 3 “Rush Hour” films); Starring Patrick Steward, Ian McKellan, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, James Marsden, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, Shawn Ashmore . PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, some sexual content and language/104 min. Da Vinci Code A Harvard symbologist is called in to decipher a baffling riddle found near the murdered body of the elderly curator of the Louvre. The cipher leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci, who was involved in a secret society. But there are those who would protect those secrets. Directed by Ron Howard (“A Brilliant Mind”, “Cinderella Man”) Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno. PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content/149 min. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Ceramic Piggy Banks Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Online Pharmacy Mailing Lists Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Student Loans Hammocks Water Filter Custom Made Computers Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams